A vandal or vandals replaced a baby Jesus statue in a Nativity scene display in front of a Haverhill, Massachusetts, church with a bloody pig's head early Christmas morning, and police in the area are investigating the heinous act as a possible hate crime.

Local news reports state that the statue was stolen from the Sacred Hearts Church in Haverhill. A woman in the neighborhood replaced the stature with one from her own display, making the Nativity display complete again. more >>

The woman responsible for vandalizing a satanic organization's display featured inside Florida's capitol during the Christmas season has apologized for ripping the piece apart, but says she had to take it down because seeing it next to the nativity was "not right."

Susan Hemeryck, 54, who damaged the Satanic Temple's display on Tuesday "... was wearing a 'Catholic Warrior' T-shirt at the time of her arrest, [and] was charged with criminal mischief and released without bail," according to UPI.com.

"Hemeryck … told a pair of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Capitol Police officers she was 'sorry and had to take down the satanic display' about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday because it was 'not right.'" more >>

A grumpy American Airlines passenger with a burning hatred for Christmas was nixed from a domestic flight Tuesday when he exploded and refused to be calmed after the airline's staff wished him "merry Christmas."

According to the New York Post, which does not identify the passenger, it was a cheerful gate agent who first triggered his anger as he waited to board American Airlines flight 1140 to Dallas by wishing him and other passengers a merry Christmas as they checked in.

"You shouldn't say that because not everyone celebrates Christmas," the man reportedly shouted at her. more >>

I feel called to respond to this article, as a Roman Catholic woman intellectual. I know that I have many non-Catholic readers among my Ruth Institute friends, but I have to speak as a Catholic for two reasons. First of all, that is what I am. Secondly, non-Catholic Christianity is not a well-defined thing. One can readily point to non-Catholic Christians who believe all sorts of things. There is no non-Catholic Christian "definitive" or "traditional" interpretation of anything. Say what you like. Believe what you like. But Catholicism has at least this virtue: one can figure out what it actually says and does not say.

Dr. Tarico cites numerous examples of rape stories in a variety of religious traditions: Zeus, Jupiter, Zoroaster and so on. Tucked away within those stories is the story of the virginal conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary. I'm reminded of the old Sesame Street song: "One of these is not like the others." more >>

Carrie Underwood recently admitted that hectic schedules have made celebrating holidays impossible before, but after the arrival of her first child, the singer and her husband, Mike Fisher, will never miss a special celebration again.

The "Something in the Water" singer, who is expecting her first child with Fisher, is already looking forward to next Christmas with the new baby. However, Underwood said juggling careers and parenthood would be challenging for both herself and Fisher in the year to come.

"That's something that has definitely been on both our minds," the singer told CMT. "We are just crazy. Our lives are weird, you know? They're awesome, and we're so blessed, but we're coming and going and all that stuff, so we're definitely going to have to reevaluate everything and just make time, make room and make that a priority." more >>